Saturday, November 2, 2013

Look at the picture on the right. I found it on Tumblr. It is an attempt to argue that prayer is pointless and ineffectual. Someone added some commentary below it to show how Christians prayed in the past and how those prayers failed. There are several problems with this based on some bad assumptions. Let's first look at what the Bible says about prayer and then look to see how we can see what is wrong with the supposed prayers. One thing I would like to know is how does confrontingbabble-on know that people prayed prayers like this one? Problem is that people assume that God is obligated to answer your prayers the way you expect him to do. No where doe the Bible say that.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. - James 4:1-3

Instead

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. - 1 John 5:13-15

Prayer is not about changing God and making God do what you want. It's about communicating with God and allowing Him to change you. Therefore if you pray for something that is not in God's plan or according to God's will, the answer is an automatic "No".

1913 prayer: "Dear God, please stop the
government’s plan to collect income taxes…and prevent women from getting
the vote…as this will surely destroy this great nation…For thy glory,
Thy will be done…Amen"

February 3 – The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution is
ratified, authorizing the Federal government to impose and collect
income taxes.
March 3 – The Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913 takes place in Washington, D.C. led by Inez Milholland on horseback.

No where does the Bible tells us that Women should not vote nor have a voice in government. Even if someone did pray this why would anyone think that God would want women not to work or vote? They didn't get that idea from God. As for social security taxes, Jesus told us we must pay our taxes. I'm glad God said "No".

1940 prayer: "Dear Lord God, please stop
women from showing their legs in public…as this will surely destroy
this great nation…For thy glory, Thy will be done…Amen”

May 15 Women’s stockings made of nylon are first placed on sale across the U.S. Almost five million pairs are bought on this day

Now where does the Bible tell us that about Women. I'm glad God said "No."

1969 prayer: "Dear God, seriously, hear
my prayer…please confound those so arrogant to presume to leave earth
and go to the moon, as you confounded those who would build the mud
brick ziggurat of Babel of around 6 floors
high into the heavens…as this will surely destroy this great nation…For
thy glory…Thy will be done…Amen”

July 24 – Apollo program: Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins return safely to Earth after the first landing on the Moon.

November 19 – Apollo program: Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and
Alan Bean land at Oceanus Procellarum (“Ocean of Storms”), becoming the
third and fourth humans to walk on the Moon.

November 24 – Apollo program: The Apollo 12 spacecraft splashes down
safely in the Pacific Ocean, ending the second manned mission to the
Moon.

God's will was done. No reason to assume that God didn't want people to go to the moon.

2012 prayer: "Dear Jesus, please, please, please, I
implore you…stop our leaders endorsing gay marriage…prevent those who
would damage the fine work of the godly Boy Scouts…prevent that black Muslim being re-elected president…and stop weed being legalized…as all this will surely destroy this great nation…For thy glory, Thy will be done…Amen"

May 9 – Barack Obama becomes the first sitting U.S. President to announce support for gay marriage

October 18 - The Boy Scouts of America release documents containing
over 15,000 pages relating to allegations of sexual abuse by over 1,200
scout leaders between 1965-1985

November 6 – 2012 elections - Barack Obama is reelected President of the United States, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney

Maine becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage via voter
referendum. Maryland and Washington do the same. Minnesota also rejects a
constitutional amendment which would have banned same-sex marriage.

Washington becomes the first state to legalize marijuana. Colorado does the same.

Why did God allow this? Especially because we know that God says in scripture that homosexuality is sin. Why would God allow it to become more and more accepted?

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. - 2 Timothy 3:12,13